Studies on the Anti-Gouty Arthritis and Anti-hyperuricemia Properties of Astilbin in Animal Models

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate potential anti-gouty effect of astilbin (AS) and its possible mechanisms. In mice with hyperuricemia induced by potassium oxonate (OXO) and yeast extract powder (YEP), AS and febuxostat (FB) reduced the serum uric acid (UA) and xanthine oxidase (XO). Moreover, AS and FB reduced the levels of reactive oxygen species and increased the content of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase and catalase present in the serum. In acute gouty arthritis rats induced by intraarticular monosodium urate crystal injection, AS and Colchicine (COL) alleviated the ankle joints swelling, and reduced the inflammatory cell infiltration. AS also reduced the levels of interleukin 1β, interleukin 6, tumor necrosis factor alpha and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 in liver. The present study first confirmed the anti-gouty effect of AS in mice with hyperuricemia and rats with acute gouty arthritis, which provides the experimental evidence for further evaluation of AS as a candidate for gout treatment.

Keywords

• astilbin
• hyperuricemia
• acute gouty arthritis
• interleukin 1β
• xanthine oxidase